Last updated May 22, 2020
KNN is actively monitoring recommendations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are in frequent communication with colleagues in Kentucky, at the National Council of Nonprofits, and other state nonprofit associations across the country. During this challenging time, nonprofits have an important leadership role: you are tasked with your personal health, the health of your team, and your role in serving the community effectively. We are all in uncharted territory, but KNN is committed to continuing to curate the latest resources to help you stay safe and meet your mission.
Stay connected with KNN and your colleagues
- KNN hosts free weekly virtual town hall meetings via Zoom for members and potential members on Thursdays at 10:30am EDT - REGISTER NOW
- KNN sends regular email updates. Click to join our email list and be sure your receiving the latest information on COVID-19 for nonprofits.
- KNN regularly hosts webinar opportunities, many of which directly relate to COVID-19 - REGISTER NOW
- More is coming! Check back and sign up for our email updates to be sure you are aware of virtual opportunities and other support we are providing.
We need to hear from YOU!
Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Grantmakers of Kentucky, and regional partners are gathering needed information from Kentucky’s nonprofits about the impact of COVID-19. We have developed a rapid response poll that will take roughly 10-12 minutes to complete. Your responses are critical and will enable KNN, GOK and other partners to determine the resources needed. The inital survey deadline was Thursday, March 19, however we encourage one representative from your organizaiton to complete the survey if you haven't, and you are welcome to revisit the survey to share information as your circumstances change (please have the same person update the survey). Click the button below to take the survey.
Advocacy/Policy
- *NEW* KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording, featuring Secretary of State Michael Adams (May 21) discussing the June 23 primary election. Find more on the Secretary's webpage and share this graphic on deadlines for the June primary election.
- *NEW* KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording, featuring Robert Coffey, Acting District Director of the SBA, and US Congressman John Yarmuth (May 14)
- *NEW* KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording, featuring Josh Benton, Deputy Secretary of the KY Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, and US Congressman Andy Barr (May 7)
- KNN's COVID-19 letter to Governor Beshear regarding USDOL guidance on self-insured nonprofits (4/29/20)
- Kentucky Nonprofit Community Letter to Congress (updated 4/20/20)
- KNN’s COVID-19 Letter to KY Leaders (updated 3/23)
- Community Letter to Congress: Nonprofit Track Reforms to the CARES Act (4/8/20)
- Governor Beshear has defined life-sustaining businesses and has included KNN's recommendation regarding nonprofits. Read that executive order here.
- Tracking the Policy Response to COVID-19 in KY, from Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
- REMEMBER: Taking our survey helps inform KNN on the issues you are facing and allows us to most effectively communicate with federal, state and local officials.
Relief/Loans Available for Nonprofits
- *NEW* SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
- *NEW* KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording, featuring Robert Coffey, Acting District Director of the SBA, and US Congressman John Yarmuth (May 14)
- *NEW* Loan Forgiveness Calculator (Montana Nonprofit Association) and Recording of video explaining the tool (Begins at 37.11)
- *NEW* SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) FAQs (updated 5/13/2020)
- Information on relief/loan programs (loan applications, etc. as of 4/3/20)
- Recording of webinar: "Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits?" from the National Council of Nonprofits (updated 4/7/2020)
- Slide deck from webinar: "Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits?" from the National Council of Nonprofits (updated 4/7/2020)
- Loans available for Nonprofits in CARES Act - side by side comparison
- Analysis of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (Pub. L. 116-132)
- FAQ on new loan opportunity via CARES Act: the Paycheck Protection program for Small Businesses
- How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19, Nonprofit Quarterly, Mar. 26, 2020
- Analysis of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- FAQ/Summary of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the SBA. Click to learn more and get started if you plan to apply.
- Senator Mitch McConnell's Coronavirus Response Portal: to help Kentuckians who may have questions related to how the CARES Act will help their organizations take advantage of the provisions in the legislation.
- SBA Coronavirus Relief Options
- SBA Frequently Asked Questions for Faith-Based Organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
- Need help understanding what federal relief is available for your organization and/or employees? Our colleagues at the Montana Nonprofit Association have developed this decision-making navigator (that they will continue to update) with the latest information.
- *NEW* KNN Virtual Town Hall Meeting Recording, featuring Josh Benton, Deputy Secretary of the KY Education and Workforce Development Cabinet (May 7)
- Governor Beshear has issued policy changes that make unemployment insurance more available to people who lose their jobs due to the coronavirus, including waiving the one-week waiting period for receiving benefits and the requirement that recipients prove they are actively looking for work. Click here for more information (Kentucky Career Center).
- Unemployment Insurance - Employer Handbook for COVID-19
- Unemployment Insurance & How it Works (WFPL)
- More on Self-Insured Nonprofits and Unemployment Insurance from National Council of Nonprofits and NC Center for Nonprofits
- Note: even if individuals are unsure if they will qualify, they are urged to apply.
Medicaid & Other Assistance
- List of Resources: Help for Kentuckians during COVID-19, KY Voices for Health & ThriveKY (English and Spanish)
- What Kentuckians Need to Know about COVID-19, KY Voices for Health & Thrive KY (English and Spanish)
- Uninsured Urged to Apply for Temporary Medicaid During Pandemic (KY Voices for Health, Public News Service)
- Medicaid website & Medicaid COVID-19 page
- Medicaid application with presumptive eligibility
- Link to assisters who can help with application
- Provider directory
- Webinar: COVID-19 State and Policy Updates from ThriveKY
- Free internet access from AT&T for households with at least one resident who participates in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
Business Continuity Planning
- If your organization doesn’t have a business continuity plan or hasn’t revisited it in a while, now is a good time to do so. Here are a couple of samples for starters:
- No Business Continuity Plan? Take these 4 easy steps (from Nonprofit Risk Management Center)
- Business Continuity Plan Template, Cash Forecasting Template, and Guide to Completing the Template
- Find more recommendations in the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease, which includes recommendations and considerations for creating an infectious disease outbreak response plan.
Telecommuting & Cybersecurity
- *NEW* Recording: Cybersecurity in a Pandemic for Nonprofits & Small Businesses (Dean Dorton) and accompanying slides
- *NEW* Sample Telecommuting Agreement (Utah Nonprofits Association)
- Review or establish your policies for Remote Workers and Telecommuting Practices for Nonprofits. Nonprofits should clearly and regularly communicate these policies with their workers. Here are two sample policies from the National Council of Nonprofits’ website.
- How to Facilitate Virtual Meetings (Beth Kanter)
- 8 Tips for Working From Home (NPR)
- Here is a good article that covers the basics for call forwarding, and then a variety of options depending on your system.
- Technology resources & discounts:
- Zoom offers nonprofits the ability to keep business as usual by meeting and hosting trainings or presentations online. KNN members are now eligible to access Zoom at 20% off all subscriptions of at least a one (1) year term (Zoom Audio Plan, Zoom Phone, and cloud recording are excluded; all are available at an additional price, but with no discount). Login to the KNN Member Information Center to access your discount code. Note: Zoom offers a limited, basic subscription for free.
- Google, Microsoft, and WebEx are offering their conferencing tools free-of-charge for a limited time.
- GoToMeeting is also offering their remote work tools free for three months.
- More information about free videoconferencing options (ZDNet)
- If you are using a platform that does NOT have file sharing built in, consider using Dropbox for a short time. Nonprofits focused on fighting COVID-19 can access three months of free Dropbox Premium.
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Free COVID-19 Safety Resources App by Live Safe: Stay in touch with colleagues and to communicate relevant information during the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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TechSoup also offers discounted technology products for 501 (c)(3) organizations. Click to learn more about Tech Soup and which donation programs your organization is eligible.
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Asana Project Management is also offering discounts for nonprofits. Click to learn more about special pricing for nonprofit organizations from Asana. Click to learn more about the Special COVID-19 Asana License for Nonprofit Organizations that facilitate disaster relief or medical research. Some Asana features are free.
Fundraising
- *NEW* Webinar Recording: Fundraising in a COVID-19 World & Being Ready for Recovery (Jeff Ashley, Ashley|Rountree)
- Keep in touch with your funders regarding the primary and secondary effects your organization is encountering. Ask if they are considering any changes to their priorities or funding. Ask what kinds of allowances or adjustments can be made to contracts or grant agreements in the event that your services need to be interrupted.
- COVID-19 Fundraising Resource Guide (AFP)
- 13 Innovative Online Fundraising Ideas (CauseVox)
- Coronavirus: What am I supposed to do about my fundraising event? (Washington Nonprofits) - Includes webinar slides, resources, links to digital fundraising platforms, and an example of a virtual gala.
- If You Have to Cancel Your Event Because of Coronavirus (Fired-Up Fundraising)
- Essential COVID-19 / Financial Crisis Fundraising Advice (Bloomerang)
Financial Management & Risk Management
- *NEW* IRS extends 990 Filing Deadline: IRS announced that it is extending to July 15 relief to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling between April 1, 2020 and July 15, 2020. The IRS notice identifies the Form 990-T return for unrelated business income taxes as one of the forms with an extended filing deadline. The annual Form 990 filing deadline is also delayed by operation of this notice and previous IRS guidance for extension of filing deadlines during federally-declared disasters.
- Sustainability to Survivability: 5 Nonprofit Finance Must-Do's in the Time of COVID (Nonprofit Quarterly)
- Financial Leadership in the Face of Impossible Choices (CLA)
- Nonprofit Insurance and COVID-19 (New York Council of Nonprofits)
- Business Continuity Plan Template, Cash Forecasting Template, and Guide to Completing the Template
- Cash Flow Template (Propel Nonprofits)
- Free Financial Planning Tools (Nonprofit Finance Fund)
- *NEW* COVID-19 Workers Compensation Insurance Guidance (Peel & Holland)
Board Governance
- KY Nonprofit Governance & COVID-19 FAQ handout
- House Bill 440 Summary
- House Bill 443 Summary
- KNN’s Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence in Kentucky Tools: Guide & Planning & Implementation Workbook
- What Board Members Should Be Doing Right Now to Address the COVID-19 Situation (BoardSource)
- Leading an Organization through the COVID-19 Crisis (BoardSource)
- Tough Times Call for Tough Action (Sea Change Capital Partners)
- Free Financial Planning Tools (Nonprofit Finance Fund)
Human Resources
- Nonprofit HR Coronavirus Digital Information Portal
- Volunteer Engagement Amid a Pandemic (VQ Volunteer Strategies)
Communications
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis Communication Best Practices for Nonprofits (Prosper Strategies)
- Coronavirus Crisis Communications Triage Kit (The Communications Network)
Comprehensive Resources for Nonprofits
- Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: Resources to Help Nonprofits (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
- How We Can Support Each Other & Our Communities During the Coronavirus (National Council of Nonprofits)
General COVID-19 Information
- Kentucky Department for Public Health Coronavirus page
- CDC Coronavirus page
- World Health Organization Coronavirus page
- World Health Organization’s COVID-19 advice for the public
- OSHA’s information page on COVID-19
- State-by-State Policy Resources on COVID-19
- Cororonavirus trackers (Kentucky tracker, global map, and US map)
- Information to share with multilingual clients (Lexington-Fayette County)
How are nonprofits being affected?
With business shutdowns and the number of cases in Kentucky growing, nonprofits are experiencing a wide range of impacts, including:
- staff and volunteer absences,
- disruption of services to your clients and communities,
- disruption of supplies or services provided by your partners,
- cancellation of programs or events offered for your clients and communities,
- cancellation of fundraising events and corresponding reduced revenue,
- increased demand for services/support from your clients and communities,
- increased expenses and decreased revenue,
- budgetary implications related to strains on the economy. Since nonprofits often operate in a marginal financial position, these sorts of impacts are difficult to absorb.
Help us help you!
How is the pandemic affecting your nonprofit and the people you serve? Share your stories and questions to help KNN identify and develop resources and continue to be your advocate with our state and federal officials and our colleagues in philanthropy. If you would like to see other resources on this page, please click here to let us know.
